• May 13, 2026
  • 26 5786, Iyyar
  • פרשת במדבר

Fasting on Shabbat

Hello Everyone,

Last week we learned about the difference between Shabbat and Yom Tov. On Shabbat there is a mitzvah of “עונג” while on Yom Tov there is a mitzvah of “שמחה” The difference between  עונג and  שמחה  is that  עונג  is subjective while  שמחה  is defined. עונג  means ( more or less) pleasure, and pleasure is subjective. For that reason is reason if someone is very sad on Shabbat and crying will help the person, then in such a case a person may cry on Shabbat. Crying is an  עונג in such a case. But  שמחה means happiness. There is a mitzvah to be happy on  יום טוב . That is why there is no mourning/שבעה on Yom Tov and even if חלילה  a relative dies on Yom Tov one may not cry.

Today we will talk about fasting on Shabbat. If someone feels that fasting would be an  עונג may she or he fast on Shabbat?

We will see how this question is answered by the Poskim.